Effects of silver nanoparticles combined with curcumin as drug carriers in chronic wound healing

Wound healing is a complex biological process essential for the restoration of injured tissue that proceeds through four highly organized phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Disruption of these stages, particularly by bacterial infections and biofilm formation, can result in chronic non-healing wounds and severe complications such as abscesses, osteomyelitis, necrosis, or sepsis. The incidence of chronic wounds is increasing due to our aging population and the augment of people afflicted with diabetes. With the extended knowledge on the biological mechanisms underlying these diseases, there is a novel influx of medical technologies into the conventional wound care market. Several nanotechnologies have been developed that exhibit unique properties that address specific problems related to wound healing mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the most recent nanotechnology-based therapeutic agents and discuss the efficacy of nanocarriers of silver nanoparticles combined with curcumin and their effects on improving and accelerating the wound healing process to prevent it from becoming chronic. Plants and plant-derived bioactive constituents are well explored in the treatment of various types of wounds. Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the Curcuma longa L. substance that has been used since ancient times in Ayurveda for its healing properties, as it reduces inflammation and acts on several healing stages. Several research studies for curcumin delivery at the wound site reported the effectiveness of curcumin in eradicating reactive oxygen species and its ability to enhance the deposition of collagen, granulation tissue formation, and finally, expedite wound contraction. Curcumin has been widely investigated for its wound healing potential, but its lower solubility and rapid metabolism, in addition to its shorter plasma half-life, have limited its applications in wound healing. With emerging drug resistance microorganism, the search for a new biocidal agent has begun. The silver nanoparticle is a synthetic material with potent antimicrobial activity that applies to a diverse library of microorganisms. But toxicity and safety concerns of chemically prepared silver nanoparticles toward humans and the environment limited the extensive industrial biomedical application of silver nanoparticles. In contrast, curcumin offers a safer, natural alternative with broad antibacterial and antifungal potential. The findings highlight that tailoring nanocarrier-based delivery systems for curcumin can significantly improve its bioavailability and therapeutic performance, thereby advancing wound healing strategies and reducing complications such as infection and scarring. Designing appropriate drug delivery systems to carry curcumin improves its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Further studies are critical to provide insights into how scientific evidence from nanotechnology-based therapies can be applied in the clinical setting.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chronic Wound ، Curcumin ، Silver Nanoparticles ، Drug Carriers